• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass LDS 1x8 and 2x8 3ways vs. Epi UL110

#61
Marty, the Epifani website says 22 lbs - I didn't weigh mine. I am pretty sure some guys would not get enough volume from this cab for the gigs they play but it's enough for me. Using the cab with the Focus was interesting - I could hear elements of the amp coming through in the sound. I think that is because the sound is a lot truer whereas with the LDS all I heard was the sound of the cab. The B-1 is very accurate at low volumes but it always has a particular old school sound to it whereas the Epi has perhaps just a hint of it but no more and retains its tone across the frequency and volume ranges.

I did wonder about the cab being off the ground. I certainly would like to put a tilter on it - that's for sure. I personally don't like having cabs off the ground for a number of reasons. I don't like it visually and I feel an intrusion in my physical space if that makes sense. Also, it's just one more thing to carry or deal with to get it off the ground.

Did you get a cover for your UL110? The price for the factory cover is quite high (1/6th of the price of the cab). I don't care about padding too much. I just don't want rain or snow getting in anywhere are and I'd like to keep the fabric clean.
 
#64
I know raising the cabinet can be a hassle - I try to use a chair lying around the venue - but it's really worth it. You get used to it. I bring a very small foldup stand if there's no chair. I did get the cover, as I'm a complete equipment cleanliness nut. It's a deluxe padded Tuki with the Epifani logo.
 
#66
I did try putting the Epi on a chair yesterday in my studio and it sure did sound great. Very, very transparent sound - I couldn't even tell it was on except for the volume but the tone was fantastic.

I used the Epi at a gig yesterday. The entire gig was sub-optimal for many reasons so it wasn't a good situation but the cab certainly performed it's duty well and I was infinitely more comfortable with it than I ever was with the LDS. This also got me thinking about the whole 8" speaker issue. I don't know about 2x8 but after my LDS experience, I'm not convinced that a single neo 8" driver cuts it. I don't mean for volume but for tone. The Pub was different as the 8" is effectively a long-throw.
 
#68
Martin,
Are the LDS 1X8's completely different sounding than the 2X8's?
They must be, because I can't imagine a cabinet that reproduces the Contrabass as well as the 2X8 IMHO. Now, granted I haven't tried the
Epifani UL 110, but I really don't see the need to. I have the VL 108's for that small gig in the corner bar.

Ric
 
#69
Glad you asked. I'd be happy with either the Epi UL110 or the LDS 2x8 3way vertical. Both are excellent and both are much more capable than the LDS 1x8. There may be parts of the LDS 2x8 that are more appealing than the Epi, but for me, with no roadie (or groupies, I might add - where are all those jazz groupies anyhow?), I prefer to save the pounds and use the Epi. But I'm lazy (maybe Adrian and I should just buy a Bowflex...)
 
#70
You have to remember that my LDS 3-way 1x8 turned out at over 30 lbs once the compartment was added so I'm saving over 10 lbs a lot by going the Epi route. As for Bowflex, hey I played a gig tonight with just bass, trumpet, and tenor and no amp. After we were done, the trumpet player said that playing a gig like that is a lot harder on his chops and the tenor player agreed. I could only laugh and told them they had nothing to complain about!
 
#71
I've come to realize that there is no reason for me to carry all of my gear for a gig in one trip. It just occurred to me that there is always a way to do 2 trips (I don't play in a city or anything). Nowadays that means my bass in one trip, and my amp/cabinet/cables/music in another. With the stuff on a rolling cart, it is easy and painless. 5 minutes more time.

So why not use whatever gear sounds good to me? I find the LDS 2x8 (4 ohm) in conjunction with my WW MI-100 to have such a mellow yet articulate sound. It might not sound exactly like my bass but it always sounds good, and I am complimented at every amplified performance.
 
#72
macmrkt said:
Glad you asked. I'd be happy with either the Epi UL110 or the LDS 2x8 3way vertical. Both are excellent and both are much more capable than the LDS 1x8. There may be parts of the LDS 2x8 that are more appealing than the Epi, but for me, with no roadie (or groupies, I might add - where are all those jazz groupies anyhow?), I prefer to save the pounds and use the Epi. But I'm lazy (maybe Adrian and I should just buy a Bowflex...)
Click to expand...

Martin and Adrian,
The lighter the better, It's better for you're back, and it's easier
on you're hands and limbs. For now, since I have the VL 108's I'll stick with those. But they actually weigh 27 lbs., which is 5 pounds heavier than the Epifani. I think that their Transmission line design really helps with lower frequencies and definition from that small a cabinet. They really suck power though.

Ric
 
#73
Ric - not to beat this horse too much, but you may want to borrow an Epi UL110 some day as a POTENTIAL replacement for the VL108. The Epi is about 20 lbs and only a tad larger. But I suspect is goes deeper and might just possibly, be smoother as it is a less complicated design. I could be wrong however!!! But if it does turn out OK, you'll probably make money on the swap and lose a few pounds as well. There's a line of guys who want stacked VL's for higher volume BG use...
 
#74
macmrkt said:
Ric - not to beat this horse too much, but you may want to borrow an Epi UL110 some day as a POTENTIAL replacement for the VL108. The Epi is about 20 lbs and only a tad larger. But I suspect is goes deeper and might just possibly, be smoother as it is a less complicated design. I could be wrong however!!! But if it does turn out OK, you'll probably make money on the swap and lose a few pounds as well. There's a line of guys who want stacked VL's for higher volume BG use...
Click to expand...

Martin,
Hey, when you speaketh I listen. Ever since I purchased the Mackmarkt-Oatman LDS 2X8, I realized that you know what you're talking about! Unfortunately, there aren't any Epifani or Euphonic Audio dealers in St. Louis. I'm not givin up my VL 108's because I have the second version with the nicer grille and plastic
corners. But, I might just clear out my VL 110 at some point. At this point I'm so happy with the LDS and St. Louis is so flat I really couldn't ask for a better rig.

Ric
:)

PS I've never been able to stack the VL 108's with either the
MI-400 or the Ultra. It's feedback city, no mater how I place the cabinets!
 
#77
Funny you all are talking so much about the the 3 way LDS cabs.
I remember well the sound of my LDS 2x8 WET (2 way) as one of the best little doubling cabs ever. I sold it- like a fool- thinking that the Bergantino HT112 was more natural sounding and louder. In retrospect after many experiences on many different stages with the Berg Ht112 and WWUltra combo I wonder if I made the right decision. That little LDS cab frequently was pushed harder than it should have been and took all of the Woods' power without blowing a speaker. Excellent tone for 5 string electric, too. In the same situation I find the berg to choke and to have too much prominence in the low mids when pushed. The only issue I really had with the LDS 2x8WET is that the tweeter seemed to run out of gas before the 8" drivers did- much the opposite of the Epifani UL110 and many other cabs. Sure, the LDS 2x8WET weighed in at a healthy 40LBS but the slim vertical design was a very easy, ergonomic schlep.
I also now own a series I Epifani UL110 the shlep factor is good, tone at low volumes is good, but it doesn't make it as a cab for mid sized rooms IMO. I'll keep it around for rehearsals and small low volume work to be sure
Next time I see an LDS2x8 WET used I'm buying it and I will play around with some mods for the Tweeter and Crossover. I've often thought about simply throwing in a Berg tweeter in the LDS cab just to see what happens...
For so much of what I think I hear everyone wanting in a cab the older LDS 2 way, rear-ported, non-neo design is a real winner, IMO. Try one, Tom and report! It's so small- it won't take up any room in your basement- "it is wafer-thin..." ;)
 
#79
Eight inch drivers sound so good for bass......to bad more cab makers don't make them easily available.

I ordered a 2x8 from LDS. The owner is a great guy. I cancelled the order when it became clear that he wasn't sure about the final specs of the product he would be shipping.

The cab he was going to make me was way different than the one I read a review about in a major bass publication. The WET 2x8 I believe.

I was disappointed, but just not able to risk my money and time.

If the company was local, I might have taken the chance. But to risk losing the shipping costs back and forth (as well as the fossil fuel it would consume) seemed like folly.

Meanwhile, even the little Yamaha powered 2x8 PA system I've been using for quiet gigs sounds great for acoustic and electric bass.
 
#80
Barcza said:
Did you made a comparison for UL-110 vs UL-112? Of course the 112 has a little more power but, I intrested which one more more full range. The 112 olso light, only 30lbs.
Click to expand...

I find it hard to use the UL112 for upright bass. The low end
is so big that its hard to control. The UL110 is more even for
upright, without as much big booming lows. The UL10 has a
lot of lows for a 1x10 box, plus it will take all the power you
throw at it.
As much as I like the UL110, I tend to use the Berg HT112
much more often.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back